Well tool



May 16, 1950 H. c. oTlsETAl. 2,508,235

WELL Tool. l

Filed April 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

May 16, 1950 IH. C. OTIS ETAL WELL TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2e,1945 g Herben* C @iis Herbert C Offs, Jf.' INVENFORS ATTORNEY.

H. C. oTls ETAL. 2,508,285

WELL Toor.

3 She'ets-Sheet 3 May 16, 1950 Filed April 28, 19454 Patented May 16,1950 z ,soazrss'v 1 .uNlrao ASTATES PATENT OFFICE Y i aromas Herbert C.Otis and Herbert C. Otis,A Jr., Dallas, Tex.: Herbert C. 0th, Jr..assigner to Herbert C. Otis lApplication April 28, 1945, Serial No.590.882

l1 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well tools.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well tool whichmay be run into a well on a flexible line, such as a steel measuringline, and which is arranged to releasably engage a well device,wherebysaid tool may be utilized to run the well device into the. wellbore or to remove the same therefrom.

An important object of the invention is to pro-l vide an improvedrunning tool having. supporting means freely` engageable with a welldevice for running suchdevice into-or out of the well, said supportingmeans being positively held in engaged positionvwhen engaging the welldevice, whereby possibility of disengagement of the tool from the welldeviceduring the running operation is reduced. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved running toolwherein the supporting means is positively held in its engaged position,and wherein said supporting means is adapted to be moved to disengagedposition upon movement of actuating means relative to said supportingmeans, said actuatingv means being normally releasably restrained fromsuch movement.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an improved toolfor running into or out of va well conductor a well device having amandrel and a gripping mechanism movable on said mandrel, said improvedtool being adapted to engage the mandrel of the well device wherebyforce may be applied to said mandrel to release the gripping mchanismfrom gripping position, said tool also L being adapted to engage andsupport the gripping mechanism to permit-removal of the well device fromthewell conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved running toolof the character described, wherein the actuating means which moves thesupporting element to disengaged position is automatically actuated uponrelease of the restraining means.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedrunning tool, of the character described, wherein the supporting meansare normally urged toward engaging position, and wherein the meansurging such supporting means to engaging position is renderedinoperative when the actuating means is moved to cause movemen..

of the supporting means to disengaged position.

Yet another object .o f the invention is to provide a running tool ofthe 'character described wherein the means normally urging the dogstoward engaging position is adjustable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in such a runningtool means for causing positive motion oi' the supporting means todisengaged position when the actuating means is moved to causedisengagement of such supporting means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved runningtool of the character described. wherein the supporting element isitself supported, whereby the weight oi. the well device over which therunning tool is engaged is not carried solely by the supporting element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedrunning tool wherein the restraining means includes a frangible elementwhich is'fully enclosed within the tool, wherebyl Additional objects andadvantages ofthe invention will be apparent from a reading of thefollowing description of devices constructed in accordance with theinvention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof. wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a running tool, constructed in accordancewith the invention, and

showing the same being run into a well,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse vertical sectional view of the toolin its running position,

Figures 3 through '7 are horizontal cross-seci tional views taken on thelines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5.

8 6, 1 1 respectively of Figure 2, l

Figure 8 is an enlarged, transverse vertical sectional view of the toolshowing the same being engaged over the upper end of a well device,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing the running tool engagedwith the well device,

Figure 10 is a similar view, showing the supporting elements indisengaged or released position, V

Figure il is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of amodified form oi the running tool, showing the supporting elements inengaging position,

Figure 12 is a'similar view showing the supporting elements of themodified form in disengaged or released position, and

Figures 13 and 14 are horizontal cross-sectional views taken on thelines |3 |3 and Il ll respectively of Figure 11.

In the drawings, the numeral i0 designates an elongate solid body orcore which is substantially release the tool cylindrical in crosssection and which is provided with an upstanding externallyscrew-threaded pin I I at its upper end. 'I'he pin is reduced indiameter relative to the external diameter of the core, whereby anexternal annular shoulder I2 is formed at the intersection of the bodyand the pin. The lower end of the core is formed with a flaredsubstantially fuiste-conical portion Il, having an external diametergreater than that of the rest of the core.

An elongate cylindrical sleeve member Il is slidably mounted on the coreIl, having the lower portion I! of its bore enlarged to slide over theared section I I of the core. The sleeve is provided with a pair ofdlametrically opposed longitudinal slots I8 which extend substantiallythroughout the maior portion of the length of the enlarged portion ofthe bore of said sleeve. In addition, said sleeve has by-pess ports I1formed in its wall.

A pair of elongate supporting elements or dogs I8 are disposeddiametrically opposite each other within the slots I8 in the sleeve, andare confined at their upper and lower ends between said sleeve and theenlarged lower portion of the core I0. Each dog has an upwardly facinghook or engaging element I9 formed on its inner lower end portion, whileits upper end is provided with an external shoulder and an upwardlyextending arm 2i of reduced thickness, which is disposed above thetapered portion I3 of the core and adlacent the cylindrical portionthereof. Each arm extends upwardly into the annular space between theenlarged portion of the bore of the sleeve and the cylindrical portionof the core, so as to be loosely conilned therebetween. Each dog is alsoprovided with an inclined surface 22 on its upper inner portion belowthe shoulder 20 and this inclined surface is normally disposed above thetapered portion I3 of the core.

The lower end of each dog or supporting element is provided with abeveled surface 23 on its outer portion and is adapted to slide on acorresponding inwardly and downwardly extending inclined surface 2lformed at the lower end of the slot I6 in the sleeve, so as to besupported by said inclined surface. The lower inner end portion of eachdog is also formed with a beveled portion 25 to permit the dog to slidereadily over a well device, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

It will be seen, therefore, that the supporting elements or dogs aremovably confined within the slots I8, and that outward displacement ofsaid dogs from the slots is prevented by the engagement of the arm 2Iand the beveled lower end 23 of each dog with the sleeve I I at the endsof the slots I8, while inward displacement of said dogs is prevented bythe engagement of the inner portion of said dogs with the enlarged lowerend of the core III.

An elongate sub or connecting member 26, having a depending annularskirt 21, is threaded onto the pin II at the upper end of the core. Theskirt 21 surrounds and is spaced from the upper cylindrical portion ofthe core, and is positively positioned longitudinally of the sub by theengagement of the sub with the shoulder I2 at the upper end of the core.The upper end of the sub is reduced in diameter and is connected, bymeans of a screw threaded pin 28, to a suitable raising and loweringmechanism. which may consist of a knuckle joint 29, link jars 30, aweight member or sinker bar 3|, and a socket member 32 by means of whichthe assembly is lIC- 4 connected to a flexible steel measuring line orcable Il.

A helical coiled spring 2l is positioned in the annular space betweenthe skirt 21 and the core II) and has its ends engaging the upper endoi' the sleeve I4 and the underside 26a of the sub 26. as clearly shownin Figure 2. This spring tends to urge the sleeve Il downwardly to theposition shown in Figure 10, whereby the tapered surfaces 22 on theinner portion of the dogs Il are engaged by the inclined section Il ofthe core to move the lower ends of such dogs outwardly from engagedposition. This swinging of the dogs outwardly from engaged position isfacilitated by the pivoting action of the upright arms 2i and shoulder20 of the dogs engaging the sleeve I4 at the upper end of the slot I8,as clearly shown in Figure 10.

For releasably holding the sleeve I4 in its uppermost position, shown inFigure 2, 8 and 9, wherein the dogs or supporting elements I8 arepermitted to move to their engaging position, a frangible member or pinl0 is provided in a transverse hole II extending diametrieally throughboth the sleeve Il and the core I0. as shown in Figure 2. Headless setscrews 42 are threaded into the sleeve Il to hold the pin in the hole 4IThus, when the pin 4l is sheared, as will be hereinafter explained, thesheared portions of the pin are prevented from falling out of the hole4I by said set screws.

For preventing rotation of the sleeve Il on the core III after the shearpin has been fractured, a key 45 which is securely flxed on the core I0is slidable longitudinally within an elongate slot 48 formed in theupper portion of the sleeve. To prevent the sub 28 from becomingloosened on the core I0, a set screw 4B extends through the sub andengages the core.

In use, the tool is assembled as shown in Figure 2 and is connected tothe lowering mechanism as illustrated in Figure 1, whereby it may belowered into a well ow conductor T by means of the exlble steel line 33.It will be noted that with the sleeve I4 held in its normal position bythe shear pin 40, as illustrated in Figure 2, the dogs IB may eachindependently undergo a limited longitudinal movement in the slots I6,since the dogs are not connected together. In this position, the dogs I8will normally move downwardly within the slots I6 to the positionillustrated in Figure 2, the lower ends of said dogs, having thesupporting elements or hooks I9 thereon, being urged inwardly into thebore of the sleeve I4 by the inclined surface 2l at the lower end of theslot. The sleeve Il and the dogs may be passed downwardly over theflange 50 of a well device A' which is to be lowered into or removedfrom the well tubing or ow conductor T. The ange 50 enters the bore ofthe sleeve and moves upwardly between the dogs so that the undercutannular shoulder 5I formed on the under side of said flange is movedabove the hooks I 9 of said dogs; whereby the well device is suspendedfrom the tool. Since the flange 50 coming stuck in an inoperativeposition by thev presence of sand or other extraneous matter,

, s the other dog may nevertheless function to engage` and support thewell device.

. Any suitable well device may be lowered or removed by'means of thetool herein described. and the type shown includes a mandrel 52 having aslip assembly 52 slidably mounted thereon. The slip assembly includes aslip carrier Il which is in the form ofa sleeve slidable on the mandrel.The iiange 56 is i'ormed integral with the upper end of the slipcarrier, whereby when the dogs are engaged with said flange the welldevice may be suspended from thedogs. Slips Il are movably connected toand depend from the carrier, and are therefore movable to retractedposition by the engagement of the dogs with the slip carrier. 4.

' When removing the well device from the well tubing, as shown inFigures 8 through l0, the sleeve and dogs of the tool are lowered overthe upper end of the well device A. the bevel 2l on the inner lower endsof the dogs `engaging the upper end of the flange 50 on the slip carrierand moving the dogs upwardly within the slots I6 to permit the hookelements I6 to move outwardly and down past said flange, as illustratedin Figure 8. It `will be noted that, when the hook elements have movedbelow the'fiange 50, the lower end of the core of the toolwill engagethe mandrel 52 before the lower end of the sleeve Il engages theenlarged flange 43a of the slip carrier. Thus. the mandrel may be drivendownwardly to release the slips 55 connected to the slip carrier bydownward blows imparted to the mandrel through the core III. When theslips have been released,'the hooks I6 on the dogs will engage under theflange 50, as shown in Figure 9, to permit lifting the slip carrier,slips and mandrel upwardly within the well tubing. In this position, thebeveled lower ends 23 of the dogs engage and ride downwardly andinwardly on the inclined surfaces 2l at the lower ends of the slots I6in the sleeve. I'hus, positive engagement of the hooks I 9 with the welldevice is assured. y

It may sometimes occur that the well device A becomes stuck in the welltubing for some reason. whereby the slipsv 55 may not be retracted inthe manner just described. In such event, the pulling tool vmay bereleased from its engagement with the `slip carrier by jarring upwardlywith the running mechanism to fracture the pin 40. When the pin has beensheared, the spring y35 will immediately move the sleeve I4 downwardlywith relation to the core I 0. This downward motion of the sleeve causesthe upper ends of the slots I6 to engage the shoulders 20 on the dogsand move said dogs downwardly with respect to the core, whereby thetapered surfaces 22 on the inner side oi' the dogs are engaged by `theinclined section I3 ofthe core, as shown in Figure 10, to swing thelower vends of such dogs outwardly from engagement with the flange 50 ofthe well device. `In such position the hooks I6 on the dogs do notproject into the bore of the sleeve I t and the entire tool may b ewithdrawn from the well.

y `From the `foregoing it rwill be seen that a well tool has beenprovided which has dogs or supporting yelements thereon which areindividually movable through a limited distance longitudinally withinslots I 6 formed in the sleeve Il, and which are normally urged inwardlytoward engaging position bythe inclined surfacesA 24 at `the lower endofthe `slots and the inclined bevel 23 on the lower ends of the dogs.inclined surfaces tend to hold the hooks il on the lower ends of thedogs in tight engagement with the retrieving connection. such as theflange ll. on the well device which is to be engaged by the tool. Anyupward pull imparted to the sleeve will tend to move the hooks furtherinward to increase their gripping action on the iiange and assure thatengagement with such flange is maintained. Furthermore, the portion ofthe sleeve I4 below the inclined surfaces 2l provides additional supportfor the dogs I6, so that the entire weight of the well device |is notcarried bythe dogs alone but by both the dogs and sleeve.

It will also be seen that the hooks are quickly and automatically movedto disengaged position when the shear pin III is fractured and thesleeve is moved downwardly with relation to the core I0 by the springl5.

A modified form of the tool is illustrated in Figures l1 through 14.This form is provided with means for normally urging the dogs downwardlywithin the slots in the sleeve to assure their engagement under theilange on the well device. It is also provided with means for positivelyretaining the dogs within the sleeve.

The sleeve 6I of this xnodied form is somewhat longer than the sleeve ofthe previous form, and openings or windows 65 are formed in the sleeveabove the slots 66 in said sleeve. Dogs 68, similar to the dogs Il ofthe previous form but having outwardly extending lugs 68a at their upperends. are disposed within the slots 66 in the sleeve. 'I'he lugs 56aextend outwardly through the openings 65 in the sleeve.

A helical coiled spring 'III is positioned within the annular spacebetween the enlarged bore 62 of the sleeve and the core and is confinedbetween the upper end of the dogs 68 and a transversely extending pin 1Imounted in said coreand movable therewith in the enlarged bore 62 of thesleeve. l

Wlththe tool in the position shown in Figure 11, the pin 'II compressesthe spring 'I0 and said spring urges the dogs 68 downwardly with respectto the slot 66 in the sleeve. thus causing the lower ends of the dogs tobe moved inwardly on the inclined surface |24 at the lower end of saidslot.

The core 60 of this modified form is also somewhat longer than that ofthe previous form. Other parts of the tool are the same as in thepreviously described form and bear the same numerals.

When the shear pin 40 has been sheared to permit the spring 35 to movethe sleeve 64 downwardly with relation to the core 60, it will be seenthat the downward motion of the sleeve causes the upper ends of theslots 66 to engage the shoulders 20 on the dogs and move said dogsdownwardly with respect to the core, whereby the tapered surfaces 22 onthe inner side of the dogs are engaged by the inclined section I3 of thecore, as shown in Figure 12, to swing the lower end of such dogsoutwardly from engaging position.

It will further be noted that such downward motion of the sleeve 64, anddownward motion of the dogs 68 with respect to the core 60, releases thecompression which has been put into the spring I6 by the pin 1I, andthus said dogs may move upwardly with little or no opposing force beingapplied thereagainst by the spring llll. As a result, the spring I0 doesnot materially oppose the action of the spring 35 which urges the sleeve54 downwardlyto bring about movement of the Il dogs to non-engagingposition.

The lugs 08a on the upper ends of the arms of the dogs, extendingoutwardly through the windows 65 in the sleeve, positively preventlongitudinal displacement of the dogs from their position within theslots 68 of the sleeve.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a running and pulling tool forwell devices has been provided which has dogs or supporting elementsmounted thereon and normally urged inwardly toward engaging position forengaging a well device to be removed from or lowered into a weil tubing.vIn this modified form. the dogs are resiliently urged toward theirengaging position by the spring 10. Thus,the spring provides forpositively urging the dogs to gripping position should such motion beretarded by the presence of sand or other extraneous matter, and isfrequently necessary under such conditions. Further, the spring 10 isclearly rendered substantially ineffective upon downward motion of thesleeve 64 and dogs 68 with relation to the core 60, when the pin 40 issheared to permit the dogs to be moved to non-engagingposition.Otherw-ise, the operation of this form is the same as that of the formpreviously described.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in details of the Y constructions illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A well tool including, an elongate core, a sleeve movable on saidcore and having an inclined surface thereon, supporting means carried bysaid sleeve and movable longitudinally and laterally with relationthereto, resilient means on said core normally urging said supportingmeans into engagement with the inclined surface on the sleeve for movingsaid supporting means into supporting position, and means on the coreand sleeve for engaging the supporting means and moving said means toreleasing position.

2. A well tool including, a body, supporting means movable with relationto said body, a sleeve movable on said body and having an inclinedsurface thereon, an abutment carried by the body, resilient means onsaid body confined between the abutment and supporting means fornormally urging said supporting means into engagement with said inclinedsurface for moving said supporting means into supporting position, meanson the body and sleeve for engaging the supporting means and moving saidsupporting means to releasing position upon movement of the bodyrelative to the sleeve, such movement of the body relative to the sleevealso moving the abutment relative to the resilient means and supportingmeans to render said resilient means substantially inoperative when thesupporting means is moved to releasing position.

3. A well tool for retrieving well devices having a mandrel and agripping mechanism movable on the mandrel which includes, a body,support-V ing means movable with relation to the body, a sleeve movableon said body and having an inclined surface thereon, means normallyurging said supporting means into engagement with the inclined surfacefor moving' said supporting means into supporting position with respectto the gripping mechanism oi' the well device, and a downwardly facingsurface on the lower end of the body for engaging the mandrel of thewith the inclined surface on the sleeve for moving said supporting meansinto supporting position with respect to the gripping mechanism oi' thewell device, and a. downwardly facing surface at the lower end of thecore for engaging the mandrel of the well device for applying a downwardforce thereto to release the gripping mechanism.

5. A well tool for retrieving well devices having a mandrel and agripping mechanism movable onthe mandrel which includes, an elongatecore, a sleeve movable on said core and having an inclined surfacethereon, supporting means loosely conned between said core and sleeveand movable longitudinally and laterally with relation thereto,resilient means on said core normally urging said supporting means intoengagement with the inclined surface on the sleeve for mov- Aing saidsupporting means into supporting position with respect to the grippingmechanism of the well device, a downwardly facing surface on the lowerend of the core for engaging the mandrel of the well device for applyinga downward force thereto to release the gripping mechanism, andcooperating surfaces on the core and sleeve for engaging the supportingmeans and moving said supporting means to releasing position uponmovement of saidV sleeve relative to the core, whereby the well tool maybe disengaged from the well device sought to be retrieved.

6. A well tool including, a body, a sleeve movable on said body andhaving a depending skirt adapted to be placed over a. well device, saidsleeve having spaced longitudinal slots each terminat- Iing short of thebottom ofthe skirt and having an inclined surface at its lower end,supporting elements one disposed and movable in each of said slots andloosely conned between the body and sleeve so as to be eachindependently movable longitudinally and laterally with respect theretoand toward and from the inclined surface, engagement of said supportingyelements with said surfaces normally urging said elements to engagingand supporting position, actuating meansv on the body for positivelymoving said supporting elements from supporting to nonsupportingposition, and releasable means for holding'said actuating means ininoperative position.

'7. A well tool including, a. body, an elongate sleeve movable on andextending below said body, supporting dogs carried by said sleeve andloosely confined between said sleeve and body so as to be eachindependently movable longitudinally and laterally with relationthereto, said dogsextending below the lower end of the body and havinginwardly directed hooks at their lower ends, means on said sleeve forengaging the lower ends of said dogs and moving them into supportingposition upon upward movement of said sleeve relative to the dogs, awedge surface on thelower end ofthe body for engaging the dogsintermediate their ends and swinging the lower ends of said dogsoutwardly to releasing position upon upward movement of said body withrespect to said sleeve, and a releasable connection between said bodyand sleeve normally preventing such movement of the body with respect tothe sleeve.

8. A well tool including, an elongate core, an elongate sleeve movableon said core and having a depending skirt, said sleeve having spacedlongitudinally extending slots formed therein with an inclined surfaceat the lower end of each slot, supporting elements carried by the sleeveand each loosely conilned at its upper end between said sleeve and coreand having its lower end extending downwardly in one o'f-the slots andmovable longitudinally and laterally with relation to said core 'andsleeve, resilient means on the core within the sleeve engaging andnormally urging said supporting elements longituv dinally downwardlyinto engagement with the inclined surface at the lower end of the slotsfor moving the lower ends of said supporting elements into supportingposition within the skirt, wedge means at the lower end of the core forengaging the supporting elements intermediate their ends to swing thelower ends of the supporting elements outwardly to releasing position onupward movement of the core with relation to the sleeve, and releasablemeans connecting the sleeve and core and normally restraining the coreagainst movement relative to the sleeve.

9. A well tool including, an elongate core having an enlargement at itslower end, an elongate sleeve movable on the core and having a dependingskirt, said sleeve having a, plurality of spaced longitudinallyextending elongate slots formed therein with an inclined surface at thelower end of said slots, elongate supporting dogs carried by the sleeveand each loosely coniined at its upper end between said core and sleevewith its lower end extending downwardly in one of the slots and movableindependently of the other dogs longitudinally and laterally withrelation to said core and sleeve, a helical coiled spring carried by thecore within the sleeve and confined of the dogs to be swung outwardly toreleasing position, resilient means on the core for causing relativemovement of the core and sleeve, and a releasable connection betweensaid core and sleeve for normally preventing such move'- ment of thecore and sleeve.

l0. A well tool including, an elongate core member, a sleeve movable onand extending below the lower end of said core member, said sleevehaving spaced longitudinally extending elongate a releasable connectionbetween the core member and the sleeve for transmitting a lifting forcefrom the core to the sleeve, wedge means on the sleeve at the lower endof the slots arranged to engage and move the lower ends of thesupporting elements into supporting position with respect to an objectto be lifted in a, well bore in response to upward movement of said corewith relation to the supporting elements, said core being movableupwardly with relation to the sleeve upon release of thereleasableconnection and having a iiared section Yat its lower endarranged to engage the supporting elements intermediate their ends tomove said supporting elements to releasing position, and means forcausing such relative movement of the core and sleeve.

11. A well tool including, an elongate core having an.enlargement at itslower end, an elongate sleeve movable on the core and having a dependingskirt adapted to be placed over a well device, said sleeve having aplurality of spaced longitudinally extending elongate slots formedtherein each terminating short of the bottom of the skirt and having aninclined surface at its lower end, elongate supporting dogs carried bysaid sleeve and each loosely confined at Iits upper end between saidcore and sleeve with its lower end extending downwardly in one of theslots and movable independently oi. the other dogs longitudinally andlaterally with relation to said core and sleeve and toward and from theinclined surface at the lower end of the slot, a helical coiled springcarried by the core within the sleeve and confined between the upperends of the dogs and an abutment carried by said core, said springnormally urging the dogs longitudinally downward into engagement withthe inclined surface at the lower end of the slots for moving the lowerends of said dogs into supporting position in the sleeve, theenlargement at the lower end of the core being arranged to engage thedogs intermediate their ends upon upward movement of the core relativeto the sleeve for causing the lower ends of the dogs t0 be swungoutwardly to releasing position, such upward movement of the core alsomoving the abutment on the core upwardly with respect to the dogs andthe spring to substantially release the compression of said spring torender said spring substantially inoperative to urge the dogsdownwardly, and a releasable connection: between the core and sleeve fornormally preventing such movement of the core and sleeve.

HERBERT C. OTIS. HERBERT C. OTIS, Jn.

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